298 



OUR COMMON BRITISH FOSSILS. 



Structure. I have had them brought to me even 

 by skilful astronomers with F.R.A.S. behind their 

 names, as "meteorites." Can we wonder, therefore, 

 if less educated people call them by their other 

 name of " thunder-bolts " ? 



Of course, lightning sometimes kills one of a herd 



i'rd 



Fig. 292. — Phrag- 



macone, showing 



chambers. 



Fig. 291. — Belemnites abhreviatiis, 

 showing phragmacone. 



Fig. zg'i.^Belemniies 

 vuicronaia (chalk). 



of cattle. I have a vivid remembrance of a veterinary 

 surgeon, of such eminence that I dared not con- 

 tradict him then, who triumphantly brought a real 

 " thunder-bolt." A cow had been killed by lightning, 

 and this "thunder-bolt" was found just underneath 

 her. Where were your " scientists " ? There was the 

 dead cow ; here was the object known for centuries as 



